Exploring the Job Satisfaction among Workforce Working in Four Medical Colleges in Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Background Job satisfaction is a critical factor influencing healthcare quality, patient's outcomes and overall wellbeing in medical profession. Job satisfaction is an important component of improving job performance and maintaining overall quality of work in any organization. The result of job satisfaction will have an impact not only at the individual level but also in the institutional, societal, and national level. Objective To explore overall job satisfaction among the workforce of four different medical colleges in Nepal, as well as the factors associated with it. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to December 2024 among medical, nursing, and administrative staff who had at least one year of teaching or working experience in their respective institutions. A 36-items job satisfaction questionnaire with 6-point Likert type responses was administered in-person. Data analysis was carried out with STATA version 18 software. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables were described using means, standard deviations, medians, and ranges. Inferential statistical analyses comprised independent t-tests for comparisons between two groups and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparisons among multiple groups. A multivariable linear regression model was used to identify the significant factors associated with health workforce job satisfaction. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05, with results reported at a 95% confidence interval. Result This study analyzed job satisfaction among 533 health workers in four medical colleges. The average overall job satisfaction score was 122.24 (±15.17). Multivariable linear regression identified several significant determinants of overall job satisfaction among health workers in Nepal's teaching hospitals. Employees in Nursing (adjusted mean difference [AMD]: 5.35, 95% CI: 2.46 to 8.26) and Administration (AMD: 5.45, 95% CI: 2.20 to 8.71) departments reported higher OJS compared to those in the medical department. Contract staff had significantly lower job satisfaction (AMD: -4.23, 95% CI: -7.19 to -1.28), while differences for daily wage and other positions were not significant. Unexpectedly, employees without chronic diseases reported lower OJS (AMD: -2.66, 95% CI: -5.86 to -0.55). Higher organizational input factors were significantly associated with lower OJS (AMD: -0.37, 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.19). Conclusion This study revealed that health workforces had positive attitude towards their job however are dissatisfied with the benefits offered to them and the operating condition of their institutions. Expanding the teaching learning resources, continuing career opportunities through participation in professional development and regular promotion and increment of salary would be helpful in improving job satisfaction among health workforce in Nepal.